Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister and acknowledge the work he is doing to improve society. I will not go into the nitty gritty of the legislation because that will be teased out on Committee Stage but the Bill, which is long overdue, is welcome. It will attempt to improve the management structures, functions and objectives of the Garda. The ombudsman's commission will be set up and that will provide a mechanism for dealing with complaints, which the public will welcome.

The Garda is doing a good job because it has a major task in modern Ireland. The public has trust and confidence in the Garda, but it only takes one bad apple to destroy everything. This can happen to politicians as well as gardaí. We have a committed Garda force and it does its best in terrible circumstances, which are reported on daily in the newspapers.

I refer to Part 1, chapter 4, which relates to links with local authorities. I welcome the enhanced co-operation and consultation between the Garda and local authorities through joint policing committees. Participation by councillors means they will have a say on policing matters such as criminal activity, anti-social behaviour and under age drinking that takes place locally. I am concerned that the legislation provides that guidelines may be issued on the establishment of the joint policing committees. That provision should be strengthened. Recommendations and strategies devised by these committees will be examined. How will they be implemented? I have been a local authority member for 19 years and I have been down this road many times, attending many public meetings to address anti-social behaviour at which a community garda was present.

There are not enough gardaí in the force. The Minister is considering the establishment of a reserve Garda force at a future date and he has introduced statutory measures under the legislation to do so. Why will he not proceed with the establishment of such a force given that the Garda needs support? There are not enough gardaí on the ground and they need backup in local communities. Local authority members need to know that the recommendations agreed by the joint policing committees will be implemented and they should have the power to do so in local communities.

Local authorities will have a role in facilitating the workings of these committees but if they are aware of anti-social behaviour in public parks, under age drinking, sales of liquor in local off licences and other activities, they should be able to implement recommendations to address them. Parents approach councillors regarding such issues and the committees may assist in curbing the associated problems. These issues must be examined at local level. I wonder why the Minister will not establish the reserve Garda force now rather than only making statutory provision for it. The Garda needs support in the form of local people who will report to local authority members. Everybody will be involved and the politicians will be in a position to inform people that issues such as anti-social behaviour are being addressed. I ask the Minister to respond to this issue.